Autokaross i Floby AB – over 100 years of experience behind today’s modern bodywork
We’ve all seen them. The service and utility vehicles with cargo compartments behind the cab, clearly branded with company logos. But few of us have ever wondered where they’re actually built. The answer lies in Floby, at Autokaross i Floby AB, a specialist in bodywork for commercial vehicles.
A history that has shaped today’s business
“Before we started making body extensions and covers, we supplied the mode of transportation of the time: clogs.” Per Johansson smiles as he tells the story and notes that Autokaross’s history goes back further than many might think. The company was founded as early as 1918, and the first products to leave the factory in Floby were indeed wooden shoes. During the 1920s and 1930s, the business expanded into bodywork and superstructures, at a time when much was still built of wood.
For several decades, the company manufactured the so-called Floby cab, which became well-known in the industry and was produced in large volumes. The cabs were supplied to both Volvo and Scania, and a total of over 20,000 Floby cabs were manufactured.
When truck manufacturers began producing their own cabs later in the 1960s, the business gradually shifted toward bodywork and complete solutions, a focus that continues to this day.
Bodywork for Today’s Transportation Needs
Today, Autokaross manufactures flatbeds, box bodies, cab covers, and custom-built bodywork for light commercial vehicles of most makes. The majority of its products are sold on the Swedish market, but the business is also growing in the Nordic region and Northern Europe, particularly in the segment of cab covers for pickup trucks.
About 40 people work at the factory in Floby, and the company has a total of around 50 employees, including the operations in Södertälje. In many respects, its size and organization resemble those of Alf Pettersson AB, a similarity that is also evident in its approach to production, quality, and workflows.
Experience Driving the Business
Per Johansson, currently Sales Manager, joined Autokaross back in 1985. After completing his engineering education and military service, he started as a design engineer, where his first project was a so-called BAS fire truck.
Since then, his roles have varied, but his commitment has remained the same. Today, Per is one of the people who knows the business, the products, and the customers best.
Focus on Technology and Development
The technology anddevelopment work is led by Mats Hagman, Technical Manager with a background at Autoliv in Vårgårda. Together with his colleagues, he works to develop new solutions, improve existing products, and streamline production. Commuting is easy by train—a convenience Floby, despite its size, can offer—and the station is just a few hundred meters from the office.
Purchasing and logistics in daily operations
During our visit, we also meet Tor Hultman, who works with purchasing, warehousing, and logistics. He is also the person at Autokaross with whom Alf Pettersson AB has the most ongoing contact in their daily work.
Tor began his journey at the company in 2008 and plays a central role in ensuring that flows and deliveries function as they should, every day.
*= from Alf Pettersson AB
AP Box deliveries from Alf Pettersson AB for upcoming bodywork projects. A partnership that creates value for Autokaross and Alf Pettersson AB
Structure, Flow, and Production
A tour of the factory clearly shows that Autokaross focuses on structure and efficient workflows. Production is organized into three tiers: standard, customized, and exclusive. Standard products account for the largest volume, about 80 percent, while customized and more advanced solutions are developed when customer needs require it. As we pass the assembly stations, where the underbodies of the vans are “married” to the walls and roof, it becomes clear how crucial the balance between strength, flexibility, function, and efficiency is. A telling example is the large cabinet walls which, despite weighing only about 40 kilograms, must simultaneously withstand high stresses in daily use.
A collaboration that creates value
Autokaross and Alf Pettersson AB began their collaboration about 15 years ago.
Initially, it was mainly about standard boxes in smaller volumes. As the partnership has evolved, Autokaross and Alf Pettersson AB have jointly developed increasingly customized solutions, and today the products are a natural part of Autokaross’s recurring production. Today, Alf Pettersson AB is an established Tier 1 supplier. In the annual supplier audits, the partnership consistently receives high ratings, with delivery precision, quality, and development collaboration highlighted as particular strengths.
A visit that confirms the big picture
The visit to Floby paints a clear picture of a company with a long history, a strong sense of professional pride, and a modern approach to production.
For Alf Pettersson AB, the partnership with Autokaross i Floby AB is a concrete example of how close communication, high quality, and reliable delivery create value in practice.
A partnership that we look forward to continuing to develop.
Flatbed kit with AP Box for delivery to the facility in Södertälje.
